Although this is billed as Hanukkah music, it is not specific to the December holiday but to the idea of Hanukkah with its lights and celebration of the freedom to practice your own religion; lovely interweaving of Jewish influenced cultures; high order of musicianship in the “broken consort” theme of a harmonious ensemble of different instruments; each tune has significant embellishments, improvisations and variations making this much more than a compendium of traditional songs


NO FCC's Favorite Tracks:1,2 4 but all are good

*1-Maos Tzur-10:08 – opens with solo oud motif – female vocalist comes in with Hebrew for new twist on classic “O Mighty Stronghold”-- then a long instrumental interlude where violin comes in for a web of variations as well as more instrumentation in a lovely Middle Eastern tapestry of sounds with the oud definitely holding its own; vocalist returns and alternates with instruments; segues from Middle Eastern to more European Jewish sound

*2—Khanike, Oi Khanike – 4:47 – Yiddish classic fetchingly done in the klezmer tradition with all of the original lyrics and a very nice bit of syncopation on the instrumental interlude

3—Kita'l Tas –12:03 – a Ladino song from Turkey before WWI featuring children requesting ingredients for Hanukkah sweets; long violin and guitar intro; medieval feel in unison instruments and unadorned singing style; variations give a modern feel – middle part also sounds very Middle Eastern; end is a little klezmerish

4—Latkes –9:02 – humorous song by Yale Strom about eating potatoes every day; based on tradition; pretty instrumental intro; then female vocalist with lyrics ; long musical interlude with shout at and

5 –Azeremos La Merenda –4:09 – Ladino song about using oil to make sweets during Hanukkah accompanied by oud and then with an instrumental interlude with violin and other strings

6 –Beshir Mizmore –7:36 – instrumental composed by Yale Strom to commemorate the Jews brave enough to celebrate Hanukkah in the face of the Holocaust; somber guitar arpeggios alternate with minor key klezmer type strings

7—Akht Kleyne Brider –5:45 – song written in America in the 1920's in Yiddish arranged by Strom in swing style

8 –La Fiesta de la Hanukia –4:05-- starts with pretty pizzicato broken chords; then bowed violin; traditional Sephardic lyrics and tune; lively

9—L'Chvod Chanukah—11:54-- Hebrew song by Chaim Bialik-- Hebrew accompanied by English translation

10—The Fool Over Yonder –7:18-- song by Yale Strom; English lyrics in a swing style with theme of album